Rugged Kyocera Torque Phone Survives Beatings, Drowning, Salt Assault

Whether you live in a post-apocalyptic war zone or just have a toddler running around the house, Sprint’s new Kyocera Torque might be the droid the you’re looking for. Announced today, the 4-inch Android 4.0 handset can survive being dropped 26 times, sitting in water for 30 minutes, getting pelted with salt fog for 24 hours, hiking in -22 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures and other tortures.

AT&T’s rugged Samsung Rugby Pro has a slightly faster 1.5-GHz processor, but doesn’t promise to survive 26 drops and has the same-sized screen and ancient Android 4.0 operating system as the Torque. The Kyocera Hydro can only survive water and sports a 2010-era 3.5-ich, 480 x 320 display.

Sprint says the Torque will be available later this spring for an as-yet-undisclosed price.

Lisa has been reporting on all things mobile for Laptopmag.com since early 2013. When she’s not reviewing gadgets, she’s usually browsing patent databases or interviewing experts to track down the hottest tech trends before they even happen. Lisa holds a B.A. in Journalism from SUNY Purchase and has contributed to The International Business Times, The New York Daily News and Guitar World Magazine.